Enrique, Muertos, Ultima - and a Bit of Madness

Sonia Nazario's"Enrique's Journey," the
nonfiction chronicle of a Honduran teenager's dogged effort to reunite
with his mother in the U.S., is the choice for the 2012 One Book, One
Denver reading project.

The book is based on the 2002 Pulitzer Prize-winning seriesNazario
wrote for the Los Angeles Times. The story begins in Honduras when
Enrique is 5-years old. His impoverished mother, Lourdes, desperate to
feed her children more than one meal a day, decides to find work in the
U.S. so she can send money for her children's food and education.

Multiple
story lines follow Lourdes, Enrique, Enrique's girlfriend, immigrant
care workers and other immigrants and the perils they face. The dangers include gangs, corrupt police and the very device they depend upon for the journey north
— the trains with nicknames including "The Train of Death" and "The
Train That Devours," both references to the limbs and lives lost by
would-be immigrants gambling on rooftop transportation. Go here for the rest of the article.

• Artwork drop off is Sunday September 30th from noon to 4 PM at 774 Santa Fe Drive Denver CO 80205. 303-571-0440
• You may also drop off your work ahead of time during regular gallery hours prior to September 30, 2012
• Requirements: Work must be new, never shown at CHAC, and based on the
cultural theme of the day of the dead. Work must be framed and ready to
hang. (Student artwork is the only exception) Art must be suitable for a
family friendly environment, and be all age appropriate. Please be
mindful of size and the number of pieces, we are expecting a lot of art!
25% commission on all sales.
• All Mediums are welcome including,
but not limited to paintings, photography, sculpture, drawings,
carvings, mixed media, fabric and jewelry.
• Artwork may be refused for any reason if deemed inappropriate for the exhibit.
• Altars-We are encouraging small altars due to limited space. Sunday
set up only! Please call to reserve a spot beforehand. $20 donation
required.
• Entry fee: $10 for members up to 3 pc.’s or $20 for non
members up to 3 pc’s. Teachers and schools $1.00 per art piece per
child.

Volunteers
are needed for this event. We could use your help in several areas such
as…hanging, decorating, set up, gallery sitting, reception, sales,
storytelling, poetry, food and beverage support, kids art projects,
gallery tours, and face painters! Please call us with the dates and
times you can volunteer or sign up when you drop off artwork at CHAC.
For Inquires contact: Crystal O’ Brien, Executive Director 303-571-0440

The Santa Fe Independent Film Festival is thrilled to announce its 2012 festival will open with the
New Mexico premiere of Bless Me, Ultimathe film based on the beloved classic, "the book that was banned, burned, and forbidden." Bless Me, Ultima
written by treasured New Mexico author Rudolfo Anaya will kick off the
fourth year of the Santa Fe Independent Film Festival on October 17th at
Warehouse 21 heading up a full festival schedule over 5 days in 4
venues in downtown Santa Fe. Santa Fe IFF runs October 17th to 21st with
over 75 film screenings, filmmaker workshops and after-parties. The
Opening night party will be held at Zia Diner with a special menu
created by local restaurateur Beth Koch based on recipes from Bless Me, Ultima.
The Awards Ceremony will be on Saturday October 20th at The Lensic
Performing Arts Center. This year, Santa Fe IFF inaugurates its New
Mexico Tin Pie Plate Awards created by Fred Ray Lopez of santafetinworks.com to hold their signature Pie Awards homemade by the Executive Director's Mom.

Rudolfo Anaya'sBless Me, Ultima is a drama set in New Mexico during WWII, centered on the relationship between a young man and an elderly curandera who helps him contend with the battle between good and evil that rages in his village. Many New Mexicans can remember growing up reading this incredible book, and have long awaited the movie. Bless Me, Ultima is an award-winning classic, however, it has been controversial and has been banned in school curriculum and public libraries, as recently as this year in Arizona. Opening the festival with Bless Me, Ultima represents Santa Fe IFF's commitment to supporting films made in New
Mexico featuring a New Mexican cast and crew. Executive Director Jacques
Paisner states, "The mission of Santa Fe IFF is to show that New Mexico
is the best place to watch and make films. We are especially excited to
present the New Mexico premiere of Bless Me Ultima written here by a beloved New Mexico author and filmed in our state."

Here's the cover of the September issue of The Docket, newsletter of the Denver Bar Association. The happy folks on the cover are the winners of the first annual Lawyers' Art and Literature Contest. The categories included Drawing, Fiction, Humor Writing, Nonfiction, Painting, Photography, Poetry, and Sculpture. I'm happy because my poem, Fool Moon Madness, won the poetry prize. The people who worked on this event did a great job. The put together an impressive and attractive magazine layout that features all the winners and their works. Glad I was a part of this.

You can jump here to access the magazine and check out the art and literature.